HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Times, 1900-09-07, Page 7I
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•ptner Mrs. Broxton at the old. IIa11;' Rhea "Yes, of course, vaguely trying
i f'Dvents have a provoking way 'of ' • requirements, She was
l Co meet. all
Ei}aping their owu course without any thinking of how very 111 Mr. Matthews
.itespoet for our wishes or preferences, really was and of how entirely uucou-
ieatitdat."• serous Olivia wasof the impending ea -
:i, (.Co which sententious bit of wisdom tastt•ophe. But it was not for her to
laatilda accorded a grave affirmative. furnish enlightenment.
'+iJ3ut go on about `tom's letter, John." Some one, Miss Malvina decided, cer-
lI P'Well, it seems that Matthews had tainly ought to he within call at night
larged we condug here as his guest, to in case --in case of the worst. Dr, Oa -
Way while they were going ever the van was out of the question. fie was
papers, to which Tom replied that as, too old and too, necessary to the well
lowing to the unforeseen intervention being of the rest of Mandeville to be
f the elements, there were no papers frisked. She thought of Tom Broston,
tto be examined it would scarcely be but. Tom was hundreds of miles away,
Advisable for him to come to Mande- hard at work. Mr. Matthews had told.
faille just now. The visit could enly her be was ip an electrician's office in
pe productive of pain to him and dis- 'Kansas City. 011ie never beard from
leomfort to others,"' ]him at all nowadays, • She thought of
.1 +‘.Others, I suppose, meant 011ie,” herself, only to think next c: her moth•
Fre. Govan interjected, er. She could not stay away from the
AL.,.;"He wound' up by telling Matthews cottage at night. Why should not Clar-
Britt he begged to assure him of his ence 'Westover stay? She gave Olivia
'iabaltered affection and confidence, tate benefit of her views on this point.
'Wjiere was no room in his heart for any j "I think, my dear, you ought to have
,1011er feeling toward the man his fa- - some one besides old Reuben in the
lthe>• had loved and trusted. ' house at night. It is just possible you
l f,'Did he say that, John? Poor Tom1 might want to send for Dr. Govan der -
pear boyI Poor, poor laddie!" ' ing the night. I was thinking that Mr.
it !Ors. Govan's tears were dropping Westover would be just the one."
*OA upon the sewtpg she had laid upon"Clarence to sit up at night? Oh,
:VE N:8 A MAY.
r cepyrii ht, 18,9% by Jeannette H, Watwo>•th.
Ili lap. ' then you must think papa very ill in-
{" "i think the reason Matthews show- deed!"
me that letter," said the doctor re- I "I don't think ateything of the kind,"
gtively, "was because he wanted me said Miss Malvina recklessly. "I was
know just how Tom felt about— i just thinking that naturally it would
out things." 1 ebeer you up some to have Ltm•about"
0.1 -es; that was natural, I see, But A soft glow spread over the girl's
1n -where is he going to locate, s tired face. The mere suggestion bad
Ian? Did the letter state? Mrs. Spill- proved cheering.
tl was asking me this morning if I "Oil, lie is just as nice as can be! He
ew where Tofu was," • comes every day and has wanted to
'He thinks his chances as an elec- t help nurse from the very beginning,
Winn will be best out 'west in some I and--and—it would be immensely com-
d'tving place. He mentioned Kansas forting to the just to know that he was
ay. Shouldn't' be surprised if he 1 within call, but papa seems to have
ljtitought up there." such an aversion to any one being in
",,t. +'And so that is the last of the Brox- his room. He has said over and over
,1x11 name for Melton county. Dear, I again that he hoped L would not take
r, what changes one does see in a
i< advantage of hila when he was asleep
Ort lifetime! Why, John, about the to leave a stranger in charge of him.
IOW you brought me here a bride the As if I would take advantage of bine
Broxtons were just everything in the under any circumstances!" she added
ii Stinty. The mon couldn't project any mournfully.
!county affairs of any importance with- ' •'7'he very best of men are selfish
Out Buioston led in aus Broxton's pi ionhe sand
hand elp,
pigs when it comes to sickness," said
Miss istalvina. with scorn in her eyes
church. movements, and half the un -
and a fitted purpose in her heart.
married men in the county were court -
She found Clarence Westover tether-
ing I,ucetta." ing his borse to the Matthews rack.
"That's all so," said the doctor grave- She went toward him eagerly.
ly, "but it only goes to prove the "Well, I call this providential; that 1
mutability of human affairs." do. I was just casting about in my
Mrs. Govan refused obstinately and mind bow I could get a message to
always to mount her husband's rhetor- you." ' teal ladder. She preferred the safer if "Worse?" He nodded gravely to
-lowlier tableland of her own practical ward the house.
reflections.. "Not 1 can't say that 1 see any
"Fm not afraid, John, but what Pu- change at aIl, but it is just this way:
fus Broxton's son can make headway Thine aretIn toot cristal a hiway:
'wherever he plants Limself, but Ido for that child to be left alone condition digh
hope he will be careful about his flan- old
but with no one e ne but . Reuben to call on
vela and things. Lucetta and his moth- case o
er died so young, John. If 1 knew
where the boy was, I would write to "I understand. 1 have thought so all
lilea in a motherly sort of way, you along. 1 have pleaded with her' for
know. He may be slow making new permission to stay. She has refused
friends out there, you see." me with singtilar ohstinancy. I can.:
"And that's a kindly thought, Ilia- not stay in spite of her."
not,
is just exactly what you must
do. I know. It is all his doings. She
would be glad to have'you. I know it.
But she wouldn't go against his wishes
for the universe. I don't suppose h
can help being selfish, seeing he is t.
man. She needs you desperately, Mr.
Westover. What are you going to do
about it?"
as
V10111e0 higher than a kite. Sire had
all she could do to keep her mother
from breaking out into her dreadful
tirades of abuse before entero.
no ayes Maiwina ino"lier little three
roomed cottage -and.' Olivia 1flatthowe
in her mansionof featly rooms were
each winning their way throng)) the
shadows. witilrbeavy hearts, amid fore -
Wing fcays:
As ordeC1 by Dr. Govan, Reuben
was night nurse and Olivia tended the
sick, flan during the day. Said the
gentle old doctor:
"Iienben can stand loss of sleep bet•
ter than you can, my dear, and. 11
would distress your father to see yen
about him when you should be getting
your proper rest."
But 011ie had tier doubts. about Rett-
ben's superior powers of endurftece,
and after stealing lute the dimly light-
ed sickroom twice itt one nlglat to Iliad
patient and nurse both in a profound
slumber she aroused Reuben and drew
him cautiously•tiut into the hall.
"It is nearly midnight, Reuben,
and
I have been sleeping nicely ever since
8 o'clock. You go now and rest until
daybreak. You say he Claes not get
restless before then. Colne back at'
first peep of day, and he will never
have missed you,"
This suggestion fell In so comfort-
ably with Reuben's own desires that
she did not have to urge it very strenu-
ously. With yawning thanks he shuf-
fled out of sight.
Olivia stole noiselessly into the sick-
room to take his place. The sick Llan
was in a profound sleep. She lowered
.the lamp on the hearth a trifle and
moved the screen so that the shadows
cast by it on the ceiling above the bed
should take on fewer fantastic shapes.
She shoot the water pitcher softly to
make sure of the presence of ice in it.
She examined the tumblers of physic
to be quite sure of the next dose in
case she hail to administer it before
Reuben's return.
Gratified to find the patient remain
unconscious of all this subdued activ-
ity, she curled herself up in the great
armchair on the side of the bed next
tilde. I'll find out from Matthews and
let you know."
Then his office bell rang, and the doc-
tor left the pleasant sitting room fire-
side. made all the brighter by Mrs.
Itoctor's sweet old face, to ansewer it.
Y'resently he put his head in the door -
era • to say:
"It is something of a hurry call from
ltiatthews. I shouldn't be surprised if A second of silent reflection fell be-
tween them, and then Westover solved
the problem cheerfully.
"I have it. I can be on hand and he
none the wiser for it. I don't suppose,
now, any one 18 likely to visit the little
side porch his room opens on after
dark?"
"No. Splendid! There Is a hammock
swung there just outside his windows.
You can hear everything that goes on
in the room."
"I'lI do it," said Clarence with deci-
sion. "I will come after dark. Fottu-
nateiy there is 110 moon to tell on me."
"Nor any dog," lsitss Melville. added
reassuringly. "My dear Mr. Westover,
what a load you, have lifted off my
heart!"
And as she trotted briskly home -
'ward, with that Much lightened organ
'warming toward OlIie's lover, she said
to herself that she guessed they had
allunjust to ttls young
man be-
cause they had dedicated 011ie to ']tom
Broxton and maybe because lie wore.
patent leather shoes in the daytime.
Mandeville had its Own standards,
and truss Malvina stood by them.
Patent leather stood for holidays and
holy days. Her losing Heart was very
full jest then. What with pitying ten-
derness for 011ie, somber anticipations
for lawyer Matthews and growing
anxiety for her another It could not
well be fuller. She bad to admit to
herself that her another was growing,
queerer every day.
And the queerer she grew the snore
frenzied beeame her dislike for Hor-
ace lltattbows, in her efforts to ae-
count for it 111s8 Malvina recalled the
psychological fact that mentally uthbal•
nneetl people frequently selected Some
one individual as the object of their
especial detestation. Sometimes it was
those they had most reason to lvvo
and admire. 110r mother was certain.
ly 11 n)ononlanlac where the lawyer,
teas concerned. When site had beard
Of the sale of Broxtot Mil, for in-
stance. she had latighed inalleiously
and said that Tom could send that
paid him a good long visit, Matilda,
That was his formula—always to
keep Matilda posted as to bis twee -
extents. She bad a formula too.
"And give my love to Olivia. Tell
iter if there's anything in the. wide
world 1 can do to send right back for
ane. I'll drive over anyway this after-
' moon with some salt rising bread and
quince marmalade if you don't forbid
theist."
Mandeville would have been put to 1t
to find man or woman who, having
,ever been sick enough to call in Dr.
'Govan. had not been treated to salt
n•ising bread and quince marmalade by
ildrs. Dr. Govan.
CIIAPTBR XIII.
"Dto'rnt 1t" SPILL3MAN SPEAKS onT AT
LAST.
;totw•ittistanding lts capacity In the
and the
magnifying,
to
.matter of mo
building up of substantial charges
front stt'aWs and Wisps, Mandeville
ltd a heart, n.nd when it was known
that Lawyer Mathews bad actually
taken to his bed and that Dr. Govan
looked very grave when questioned
about his patient's chances for recon-
cry this heart swelled with a great
igity for Olivia's prospective demiation,
with the result that she was over-
, wheimed with neighborly offers et beler
and sympathy. Twining this Witte.
P• spread demonstration, she said to bliss
i afrtivtna, with shining, grateful eyes:
"1 always knew papa deserved to be
revered by this neighbors, and it snakes
me so proud to be assured of the esti-
mation lie is held in. But I don't think
be would like any of then" et his bed.
nide. He told me 80. 1 think Reuben
anti 1 assn manage the case, He Is not
very sick, yott knots. It is ;just a uerv-
Cis attack. no has been in a dreadful.
-ty nervous condition ever since the tire.
He Was to frightened for me that
1ttght, you know." To whleh Miss MI -
Vine answered "No. of eeurse," antY
and wipers ix'ing Duna up. ',a
one of your old tricks: You burn
a eomposltton book avhen you tve.p a#
boy when your theft of an essay was.
threatened with discovery, ' `oil burnt
Up your iilhiloatophy to escape an e;tra.
bard task. It has been a. slily but a
vicious practiee of yours ever slued
Fon were 20 years old. It served you
in good stead when voucher's that KIK
not exist were to be produced.
"But I dill not eoiue here to rail at
you for bygones, l came Isere to plead
the rause of the orphan son of the best
friend you ever had. As you hope for
forgiveness hereafter, Horace liiat-
thews, Make such restitution as le
.11
K_ J1."-•2 v�.•"C
•
"I have been blci•Inf! my time."
to• the wall, .where she would be com-
pletely hidden should her father open
his eyes, butneed no ato
llti0
n
Then
she admiuistered a small dose or cam -
'
fort to her own anxious heart.
possible to that !boor boy, It cm 'slave
mince him, and you know [t, The
money you have piled up for your girl
will never do her any good, never!
"You have bedecked her With stolen
jewels, and you know it. You fasten-.
ell: 1.ucetta Broxton's pearl ueekl:tee.
about her pure young neck the eight
she was 18 years old, just the age at
whiell poor Lueetta died. It is it wog-
der it did not scorch the child's flesh.
•"You see, I am old, but I do not for-
get thy friends. They call me craey,
My own girl has ioined in the cry
against Inc. But I have mind enough
left to retnember the things. that are
worth remembering. I r'einember the
love and gratitude 1 eiwe to every
member of the Broxton family. 1 have
tricot to serve Thomas, but bis faith in
you was not to be sIlaken. You lost
some papers the night his father Bled,
Yon did not make a very thorough
search for them. 1 think you pre-
ferred to have them lost. But they
were found and brought to me.. The
Lord put them its a weapon in my
Hasid. 1 read them, and I hid them.
• "I meant to give them to Thomas
when he should cotne of age and your
control of ihhe cease. 13ut 1 lost them.
I think I know how, but. I can't say
where. You see, Ivy poor bend plays
the tricks sometimes. it 1s not as
serviceable as It was when you were n
boy, Horace.
"In the envelope you lost there was
an unfinished letter from Rufus Brox-
ton to his son. I went up to the house
at niglyt, to give it to hlul, i:1e was
asleep.- poor laddie, and 1 twisted it
about some flowers that t had laud over
his father's picture as my poor tribute
of lova
"You see, I wanted bim to have that
letter, but I did not want you to know
about It. for then you would kuow
where the other papers were. So I re-
sorted to a ctuuisy trick to make him
believe there was something super-
natural about his getting the letter.
and then 1 kuew lie would holes his
tongue. Some time or other 'foul and
I Will have a good laugh about the
Broxton ghost.
"1 carried all the papers with me
when I went up to the Hall.. t was
afraid to leave them behind. 1 was
afraid y[alt•iva would get hold of them
and give then] to you. .\l:Ovine is on
*out side, so 1 had to be sly, oh. so
sly. Horace. But 1 lost the papers.
They are lost, lest. lost!
"I sere the gleam .or triumph in your
glaring eyes, Horace. But 1 know
the papers all by heart. I will telt It
all iu open court some day if the dear
Lord will only lceave -me here until
Thomas comes back. I trill swear that
you could not give a title to L'roxtou
Hall, and then Thomas can get it back.
But, oh..1 grow so weak, and Thomas
tarries so long! •
"I don't want to go before 'I'honins
comes. 1- may. die tonight, I may cite
tomorrow. I've used my last strength
to drag myself to your bedside. tie
who forgave the dying tiller upon tt,e
cross can forgive you. too, end he wilt
Horace, if you will only make restitu-
tion to that poor boy. He is a't.od or
mercy, in whose name 1 make this ap-
peal."
Gasping as one coming out of deep
waters does, Olivia threw herself upon
the bed and stretched sheltering anus
about the sick man.
"Father, father, forgive me! 1 ought
to have protected you better. I was so
frightened I could neither more nor
speak. It is just poor old crazy 'Mother'
Spillman. 1 shall call Reuben to take
her home."
He was breathing stertorously. Ills
eyes were fixed on the stern white face
of his accuser. Terror was legibly in-
scribed on every line of his pallid
face. He looked beyond Olivia, as if
her toying voice had not reached him.
It readied the old woman. who gave a
start of surprise• Arid said in gentler
tones than she had yet used:
"I am sorry you were•close by, ehlld,
but I had a duty to perform. It could
not be put off any longer."
Ofvi:i pressed ber hands tenderly
upon her father's wide stretcihed lids
and whispered eart'ssingly !u bis eat.
"There, dear, don't look et her. it is
only poor old 'Mother' Spillman, Who
does tot know what she is talking
"He is better. Ile must be better..
Dr. Govan said if he could only sleep
better all would be well, and now he is
sleeping spleudidly"
With folded arms and closed eyes
she fell to picturing things as they
would shape themselves as soon as her
father should leave his sick bed. She
would tell him how CIarence was
pleading for an immediate marriage so
as to help her take caro of him lu his
decliuing years. It was lovely to have
her lover so fond of her father, but
then everybody looked up to and rever-
enced her father. It would. be terrible
to have a,father whom all the world
could not look up to. And thus emn-
l'orting herself after the manner of all
things young aiul innocent she settled
herself to keep vigil. In tine minutes
she was sound asleep. Not for very
long. She felt a -dreaming, an unpleas-
ant, startling dream. She fancied some
terrible, wild thing was standing over
her father's sick bed with dame in its
eyes and venom on its tongue. She
writhed as one does In the conscious
effort to shake off a nightmare and
opened her eyes. only' to cover them
With her trembling !lauds as she smoth-
ered the impulse to cry out.
Standing close by the [billows of the
sick titan was the tall. white robed
figure, uever to be forgotten; that had
once before deprived her of the power
of reasoning. High over a tumbled
mass of snowy white hair it held the
small bedroom lamp that had been
humin• low on the hearth,
The Broeton ghbst stood revealed in
"Monier" Spillman! In that one
frightened glance Olivia had made that
discovery. But !tow was she to get
this deternatieti old woman, this avow- about. They ought to keep her under
elbowie, away 1 beet father's She
t-
leek and
key."
Side quietly? Petrified by fear. help- Stretching her hand for the hell on
Iessly casting about for a plan of ac, the titble by the bed. she rang n sharp
tion that would not react upon her be, summons for Reuben on it. She rose
loved patient, the girl shivered with front the bed and turned with gentle
renewed terror as "Mother" Spillman, dignity toward the old woman.
fn a tow voice, tnade intense' by the "Mrs. Spillman, 1 have rung for !tett-
concethtrated passion dfpurpose. en• ben to see you Rome. ' Miss \lalvhta
tercd upon her nw•fui arraignment: wilt be dreadfully frightened about
" Yoti etre i11, IIorace Matthews. 111 you."
unto death perhaps. I have been bid- She was as an aututile leaf lir the
ing my time. Refore another night strong current of the relentless old t.•o'
passes over your head you may stand luau's will. As a t"ritile will souse{
in the presence of your shaker and times burn its ltrlgbk'st before ttlekci'.
yo;t r Judge. What Will yon ttnswer ing to its death, "lather" Spillman
When he Asks yon how the orphan hits teinporerily r' eerie) the strong in.
fared at your hands, boW the Son of dividuality tri •td t111(ie her as the
the Mat who loved end trusted you far minister's wife i„s. terror of every evil -
beyond your deserts bald hien treated? doer in her tittshnnd's tonisit.
Why has Refits hroxtou'S Son Waxed "Girl, I aim sorry f,n' you, truly sorry.
poor and you rich, ITorace :llattltews? batt 1 have work to do. tor his sake,"
"You know' inc. Oh, 1 -see that you nodding her white heart toward the
do, for nil you itre staring ,at sue as if bed, "keep your nmlt at tt diet:tttcct, •
you taw a specter. You've looked at Your promise, dein 't', The— is ye
me tunny a time that way, Harem tithe. TJo not go into the prt•..t'nee of
your Makes' with tt sin burdened soul.
You kno'v whether my words are the
words of truth o1' the tavlugs of a
crazy old 'tvomatl. Yost know, and"—
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